Serum Sickness-like Reaction in a Patient with an Acute Exacerbation of Hepatitis B / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Serum sickness-like reaction (SSLR) is an abnormal self-limited reaction that can cause fever, myalgia, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, and skin rashes. Its etiology is yet unknown; however, SSLR often develops in patients with hepatitis B and after drug and vaccination administration. SSLR's typical cutaneous manifestations include polycyclic, erythematous wheal-like or plaque-like lesions. A 47-year-old male hepatitis B carrier visited our emergency department with high fever and multiple annular erythematous plaques with clear centers on his trunk and upper and lower extremities. The patient's hematologic laboratory results indicated an acute exacerbation of hepatitis B, and his symptoms correlated with those of SSLR. Here, we report a case of SSLR in a patient with an acute exacerbation of hepatitis B with clinical, hematological, and histopathological evidence.